Does anyone know how well this spectrum will penetrate? The 2.5ghz used for clearwire's wimax and similar frequencies used for LTE in parts of Europe do a much poorer job of penetrating buildings than the ~800 and 1900mhz bands used for existing 2/3g services and VZW's LTE network. I'm wondering if 3.5ghz is going to have similar issues.
These guys are right on target. 3.65GHz has a lightly licensed bit that us wireless ISP's are allowed to use.
2.4GHz is so/so at penetrating objects, working around non line of sight. 5GHz is pretty much line of sight only. 3.65GHz is more like 5GHz than it is 2.4GHz. The equalizer that makes it useful is we are allowed more power on 3.65GHz.
It's great to hear about the growing acceptance of LTE and LTE Advanced because of the implications: better and cheaper parts for service providers and handset makers through mass production which should also trickle down to consumers via lower cost handsets. However, investors and customers should stay CLEAR or Clearwire/Clear.
Clearwire Corporation has been burning though cash since Clear's inception, building a brand new WiMAX network. They no longer have adequate cash reserves to complete a LTE transition and the stock is bordering junk status (CLWR 2.26). They could sale spectrum, but alas, that would leave them uncompetitive and Sprint likely wants to keep that spectrum in place in case they sale Clear... I have doubts about them surviving through next year. Don't believe the hype, this cash strapped company is looking for foolish investors and customers who will both be sorely disappointed. If history is any sign, they'll over-promise connection speeds, throttle everyone who wants to actually use their service like crazy, sell overpriced equipment, provide horrible customer support, and use underhanded business practices to sucker money out of anyone they can. If you sign up with them now, or even when LTE is rolled out, you'll just be left with overprice equipment on an under-performing network that will be useless once the company goes bankrupt.
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DanNeely - Wednesday, August 3, 2011 - link
Does anyone know how well this spectrum will penetrate? The 2.5ghz used for clearwire's wimax and similar frequencies used for LTE in parts of Europe do a much poorer job of penetrating buildings than the ~800 and 1900mhz bands used for existing 2/3g services and VZW's LTE network. I'm wondering if 3.5ghz is going to have similar issues.Plugers - Wednesday, August 3, 2011 - link
It will.Higher freq = less penetration.
Hrel - Wednesday, August 3, 2011 - link
2.5GhzBrian Klug - Wednesday, August 3, 2011 - link
Higher frequencies definitely have less than desirable propagation characteristics. 3.5 GHz is going to have similar issues.-Brian
0ldman79 - Wednesday, August 3, 2011 - link
These guys are right on target. 3.65GHz has a lightly licensed bit that us wireless ISP's are allowed to use.2.4GHz is so/so at penetrating objects, working around non line of sight. 5GHz is pretty much line of sight only. 3.65GHz is more like 5GHz than it is 2.4GHz. The equalizer that makes it useful is we are allowed more power on 3.65GHz.
DanNeely - Thursday, August 4, 2011 - link
More power is only really an option for fixed customer receivers, not mobile ones that are limited to battery power.tech4tac - Wednesday, August 3, 2011 - link
It's great to hear about the growing acceptance of LTE and LTE Advanced because of the implications: better and cheaper parts for service providers and handset makers through mass production which should also trickle down to consumers via lower cost handsets. However, investors and customers should stay CLEAR or Clearwire/Clear.Clearwire Corporation has been burning though cash since Clear's inception, building a brand new WiMAX network. They no longer have adequate cash reserves to complete a LTE transition and the stock is bordering junk status (CLWR 2.26). They could sale spectrum, but alas, that would leave them uncompetitive and Sprint likely wants to keep that spectrum in place in case they sale Clear... I have doubts about them surviving through next year. Don't believe the hype, this cash strapped company is looking for foolish investors and customers who will both be sorely disappointed. If history is any sign, they'll over-promise connection speeds, throttle everyone who wants to actually use their service like crazy, sell overpriced equipment, provide horrible customer support, and use underhanded business practices to sucker money out of anyone they can. If you sign up with them now, or even when LTE is rolled out, you'll just be left with overprice equipment on an under-performing network that will be useless once the company goes bankrupt.